WO2001091335A1 - Methods of reducing fast fading effects in radio communication systems - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of operating a wireless network within a service area minimizing fast fading within the wireless network containing at least one repeater transceiver by utilizing the communication delay across the repeater between a base station and user is disclosed.

Description

METHODS OF REDUCING FAST FADING EFFECTS IN RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

This application claims priority as a Continuation In Part from Patent Application No. PCT/US00/14135, entitled "Methods of reducing fast fading radio propagation effects for stationary and slow moving mobiles in radio communication systems", filed May 23, 2000; and from Patent Application No. PCT/US00/14165, entitled "Apparatus for reducing fast fading radio propagation effects for stationary and slow moving mobiles in radio communications systems", filed May 23, 2000.

Technical field

This invention relates to radio communications systems employing repeating transceivers, with controlled delays through such transceivers to reduce fast fading effects for slow moving and stationary mobile users in radio communications systems.

Background Art

Propagation of an electromagnetic signal through anything possessing depth will affect at least a delay upon that electromagnetic signal. This applies not only to wireless physical transports such as air, wireline physical transports such as coaxial cable and fiber optics, but also to interface circuits such as frequency converters, combiners and splitters. Most propagation mechanisms not only affect a delay, but also alter electromagnetic signals in either intentional or unavoidable ways.

One of the most commonly reported forms of wireless signal degradation is fast fading, also known variously as multi-path fading or Rayleigh fading.

As used herein, communications radio transceivers will refer to radio transceivers supporting multi-channel radio communications protocols. Such multi-channel radio communications protocols will be characterized as possessing a carrier frequency upon which multiple logical channels may be concurrently active.

As used herein, a logical channel will refer a communication protocol air resource allocated to a radio user of that communication protocol within a service area. As used herein, a logical channel resides within a local-time physical channel within a local time domain based upon the commumcation protocol and service area. As used herein, a physical channel is comprised of one or more local-time physical channels.

Logical channels may be formed by modulating onto frequency bins within the carrier frequency band to form an FM communication protocol often known as Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) with a single local-time physical channel forming the physical channel. The local-time physical channel is a frequency bin within the allocated bandwidth of the carrier frequency.

These local-time physical channels may be further time division multiplexed into protocols often known as Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), where there is a sequence of local-time physical channels which use the same frequency bin. These local-time physical channels then are employed in a cyclic pattern to represent logical channels allocated as a collection of one or more local-time physical channels.

Frequency hopping Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), contains at least one logical channel employing a sequence of local-time physical channels which use differing frequency bins.

GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) is a TDMA protocol supporting frequency hopping. It is in widespread use around the world and in the United States. It will be used as the focus of discussion and examples for FDMA and TDMA radio communications protocols as a convenience to the reader. However, what is stated herein about FDMA and TDMA protocols will be seen to apply to all such protocols. Note that these local-time physical channels are often referred to as time slots in GSM.

Some multi-channel radio communication protocols employ what are variously known as spread spectrum channel multiplexing mechanisms. The most commonly used approach today is a direct sequence or Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) of which the most common communication standard supporting CDMA is IS-95. Rather than frequency bins or time divisions, CDMA protocols use spreading codes to code logical channels, which are then multiplexed and modulated with a carrier frequency using some form of phase shift key modulation. The physical channel will be considered as at least one of a single local-time uplink physical channel and a single local-time downlink physical, each often on the order of 1.23MHz in the respective uplink and downlink directions within the IS-95 protocol. A logical channel maps within such a physical channel by a coding scheme using a spreading code for that logical channel.

Certain extensions of this spread spectrum radio communications concept include the use of a second layer of coding, often known as scattering codes. This approach has been called Wideband CDMA (W-CDMA), and is the basis for much of the ongoing standards efforts in third generation wireless protocols. The physical channel will be considered as at least one of a local-time uplink and downlink physical channel, each often on the order of 5MHz within the W-CDMA protocol. A logical channel maps within such a physical channel by a modulation scheme using at least one and sometimes two layers of spreading codes to encode that logical channel. The uplink and downlink components of a channel are often given different coding sequences.

The current IMT-2000 proposal now attempts to harmonize GSM, IS-95, CDMA- 2000 and W-CDMA into a single world-wide communications standard. There is another proposal from Korea, based upon a W-CDMA protocol doing things in a slightly different manner. It may be integrated into the IMT-2000 proposal soon.

While there are more spread spectrum technologies such as time hopping, other forms of frequency hopping, as well as Time Division Multiplexed CDMA, the approaches of CDMA and W-CDMA will be the focus of spread spectrum discussion and examples. CDMA and W-CDMA will be considered as characterizing spread spectrum radio communications protocols in general. Focusing the discussion should not be taken as a limitation on the scope of the invention, but is done for convenience of discussion. The physics of radio communications systems will always present situations where Rayleigh or fast fading phenomena will be observed, leading to the problems discussed herein and the applicability of the invention's solutions to those problems. Before delving into the various known mechanisms for limiting rayleigh fading, it is important to define rayleigh fading and illustrate its effect.

Figure 1 depicts a typical radio communications situation involving a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) 100 linked 110 to antenna site module 120, from which two radiative paths 150 and 152 operate to deliver signals between antenna site module 120 and radio user 200 residing in rayleigh fast fading zone 160.

Several things should be noted. First rayleigh fading is caused by the super- positioning of the signal waveforms traversing the two paths 150 and 152. When the phase of the signal waveforms are at a nearly 180° difference, the signals effectively cancel each other. This is the physical cause of rayleigh fading. It is most active in situations where there is no line of sight path between antenna site module 120 and radio user 200. The fast fading region 160 is a function of the various paths 150 and 152, which for simplicity of discussion have been limited in number to two paths. Fast fading region 160 is also related to the carrier frequency of the radio communications protocol in use, more specifically, to its wavelength. This fast fading zone often minimally affects radio users 200 in rapid motion relative to antenna site module 120, since the fast fading zone width is on the order of half the wavelength. The fast fading zone is rapidly traversed, and communication is minimally affected. However, the situation changes when the radio user 200 is either essentially stationary, or moving slowly relative to antenna site module 120. In many such situations, entry into a fast fading zone 160 essentially ends radio communication.

Note that region 160 is depicted as asymmetrically shaped with a narrow and wide dimension. This is to schematically portray actual physical phenomena, having to do with the shape of radio wave fronts, distant from transmitting antenna site 120. The farther a wave front is from its source, the more the neighborhood of a point, such as a radio user 200, will look like a plane. The effect of this is to make the fast fading zone very asymmetric, with the narrow direction being essentially perpendicular, or normal, to the strongest, pervasive wave fronts. The wide direction is essentially parallel to the pervasive wave fronts. The narrow dimension of fast fading zones tends to be on the order of half the carrier wavelength but no comparable statement can be made about the wide dimension. One signal quality improvement approach is to increase the sophistication of the antenna or antenna structure in use at antenna site 120. Rather than a single wire antenna on a pole, probably the simplest antenna in use, parallel wire antennas, separated by no more than a few carrier wavelengths, are often used, as shown. Other approaches involve even more sophisticated antenna structures including arrays of antenna components. The problem with all of these schemes is that at sufficient distance from antenna site 120, the signal appears to radio user 200 as if from a weak point source, again creating the fast fading condition.

The severity of this problem is related not only to the carrier wavelength, but also to the bandwidth of the communications protocol. The communications protocol bandwidth essentially acts to vary the phase of the signal, since the wavelength is proportional to the multiplicative inverse of the carrier frequency as well as the modulated radio communications signal. The narrower the bandwidth, the less variation in wavelength, the more pronounced the fast fading effect. However, this problem has been reported for all radio communications protocols.

Also note that the situation as just described for the antenna site 120 as transmitter also occurs when the antenna site 120 acts as receiver and radio user 200 is transmitting. The difference is that while the specific antenna configuration employed at antenna site 120 may be quite significant, the effective signal strength from radio user 200 may be very weak due to the multi-path cancellation as discussed above.

Figure 2 depicts a typical radio communications situation involving a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) 100 linked by 110 and by 112 to antenna site modules 120 and 122, respectively, from which radiative paths 150 and 152 operate to deliver signals between antenna site module 120, as well as paths (not shown) between antenna site module 122 and radio user 200 residing in rayleigh fast fading zone 162 within fast fading zone 160.

In Figure 2, the use of a second antenna site module 122, typically has the effect of shrinking the collective fast fading zone 162 from the original fast fading zone 160.

Note that the radio user 200 can also address the same physical problem. The following describes fading problems and their solutions for radio users 200 from column 1 lines 36 to column 2 line 28 of U.S. Patent No. 6,023,615 as found on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Web site, with the numbering changed to be compatible with this document. Note that all quoted materials found in this discussion of Background Art are taken from the downloaded full text of the relevant patents as found on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office web site, with the numbering changed to be compatible with this document.

"Some mobile stations 200 have diversity to improve the reception of communication signals sent from the base station. Diversity employs equipment redundancy or duplication to achieve an improvement in receiver performance under multipath fading conditions. Space diversity, in particular, employs two or more antennas that are physically spaced apart by a distance related to the wavelength. In a space diversity system, a transmitted signal travels by slightly different paths from the transmitter to the two antennas at the receiver. In addition, there may be reflected paths, where the transmitted signal received by each antenna has also traveled by different paths from the transmitter. Experience has shown that when the reflected path causes fading by interference with the transmitted signal, the two received signals may not be simultaneously affected to the same extent by the presence of multipath fading, because of the different paths. Although the path from the transmitter to one of the two antennas may cause phase cancellation of the transmitted and reflected path waves, it is less probable that multiple paths to the other antenna will cause phase cancellation at the same time. The probability that the two antennas are receiving exactly the same signal is called a correlation factor.

Known space diversity systems include switched antenna diversity (SAD), selection diversity (SD) and maximal ratio combining diversity (MRCD). Each diversity system includes a controller having an algorithm programmed therein for controlling the diversity system. ...

SAD employs two antennas coupled to a single receiver through a single pole, double throw radio frequency (RF) switch. A controller samples the signal received from each antenna to couple only one of the two antennas to the receiver at a time.

SD employs two antennas and two receivers, wherein each antenna is coupled to its own receiver. The receiver with the highest baseband signal to noise ratio (SNR) is selected to be the demodulated signal. SD provides improved performance over SAD because the signals produced by the receivers can be monitored more often than with SAD and suffer fewer switching transients. However, a weakness of both SAD and SD is that only one antenna is used at any instant in time, while the other is disregarded.

MRCD also employs two antennas and two receivers, wherein each antenna is coupled to its own receiver. MRCD seeks to exploit the signals from each antenna by weighting each signal in proportion to their SNRs and then summing them. Accordingly, the individual signals in each diversity branch are cophased and combined, exploiting all the received signals, even those with poor SNRs. However a disadvantage of MRCD is that MRCD is more difficult and complicated to implement than SAD or SD."

Note that the hope is that both antennas are not found in fast fading zone 160. When both antennas are in a fast fading zone, the signal strength of both antennas is weak, and even with combining, may well be insufficient for adequate signal reception. The problem is the physics. What is being attempted cannot change the physics. It merely tries to make the best of a bad physical situation.

Figure 3 depicts a schematic of a GSM cellular telephone network as found in Figure 1 of U.S. Patent No. 5,905,962 entitled "Apparatus and method for data transmission to inhibit radio signal fading with sequential transmission of data groups based upon power levels" by Richardson.

Mobile services Switching Center (MSC) 400 is associated with Base Station Controller (BSC) 300 for controlling BTS 100-1 and BTS 100-2. Typically, MSC 400 is associated with more than one BSC. By way of example, MSC 400 is additionally associated with BSC 310 and BSC 320. BSC 310 controls BTS 100-3 and BTS 100-4. BSC 320 controls BTS 100-5 and BTS 100-6. Typically, an MSC 400 is responsible for a number of radio telephone cells which cover an area. Each BTS 100 comprises a transceiver and at least one antenna site module 120 linked 110 to the transceiver. Sometimes a BSC 300 may be physically located near a BTS 100- 1. Often the BSC 300 is physically located near MSC 400.

Such systems are the basis for wireless communications as known today and represent a significant improvement in overall performance over preceding radio systems. A weak commumcation between radio user 202 and BTS 100-1 may be handed off to a second BTS, better situated to communicate with mobile user 202. Alternatively, more than one BTS may be enlisted to communicate with mobile user 202, often adding significantly to the coverage range of the overall radio communications system. However, the physical situation causing rayleigh fading still persists, a slow moving or essentially stationary radio user may enter a fast fading region and not be able to leave fast enough to continue a radio communication, and^'once in, may not be able to initiate any new communication sessions. The radio user may not be able to receive hand-off instructions from the BTS, the physics of the fast fading region again dominating. This problem shows up not only in signal strength/noise limited environments, but also applies to interference limited environments.

Note that the approach outlined in Figure 3 has been further extended with the deployment of what are often referred to as micro-BTS units. While such systems are more complex, they cannot change the physics of the situation. Such radio communications systems often have fast fading zones posing a serious quality of service problem for their radio users. Other approaches have utilized wireless repeaters deployed at distances to provide increased coverage and quality of service. Again, such systems often possess fast fading zones, which slow moving or stationary radio users may enter, severely affecting the quality of service.

Figure 4 depicts BTS 100 linked 514 to a repeater system interface 510 further communicating via link 512 to antenna pods 520 and 522 and further communicating with repeaters 500 and repeaters 502 covering two cell areas.

The repeater 500 units cover a first cell area and repeater 502 units cover a second cell area. These units are relatively inexpensive and are relatively low power, allowing radio system operators to deploy numerous units throughout a cell area to minimize the distance to radio user 200 while additionally having a combined effect for both receiving and transmitting to radio user 200. Such radio communication systems have better cell area definition as well as many other operational advantages. However, the physics of the situation again presents the radio user 200 with the problem of fast fading zones. What is needed is a method of using a communications radio system reducing or nύnimizing rayleigh fading. What is further needed is a communications radio system supporting that use. In U.S. Patent No. 5,787,344, entitled "Arrangements of base transceiver stations of an area-covering network" by Scheinert, there is- a discussion of using time-lags in the following manner: "If a monitoring signal is consequently sent from the central transceiver station via a decentral transceiver station to the mobile station, a reply signal can reach the central transceiver station at the earliest with a time-lag corresponding to twice the value 'of the constant running time between the base transceiver stations. This constant timelag can be taken into account by a time function element whose time constant is approximately twice the value of the constant running time between the central and decentral transceiver station. If a plurality of decentral transceiver stations is coupled via a signal aerial of the central transceiver station, it is possible to use as a time constant of the time function element a minimum or average value of the different, but in each case constant, running times of the individual decentral transceiver stations." (Summary of Invention, column 6 line 57 to column 7 line 4).

Further discussion discloses "a further development of the invention is suitable in which, in one or both transmitting and receiving branches connected in antiparallel a time-lag device with an adjustable time constant is connected. In particular in cell areas more remote from the associated central station effecting coupling to a base station controller, the problem arises that the different transceiver stations of this cell area may have different distances from the associated connection station. Thus running time differences can arise, which within the cell area would lead to asynchronous transmission so that, for example, the desired amplifying effect is not achieved. This adverse consequence is counteracted by the invention in that, in the transceiver stations sited closer to the connecting aerial, a greater time-lag is set than in the more remote transceiver stations. Thus a signal is still transmitted simultaneously from all transceiver stations of this cell area." (U.S. Patent 5,787,344 column 11 lines 41-57).

In U.S. Patent 5,787,344, controllable time delays through repeater transceivers were used to synchronize transmission of shared signaling from the relevant repeater transceivers. This does not necessarily minimize the physical condition of fast fading.

Figure 5A depicts a block diagram illustrating the introduction of phase delays into a baseband signal by rotation of the I and Q waveforms prior to modulation as found in Figure 5 of U.S. Patent No. 5,991,331 entitled "System for improving the quality of a received radio signal" by Chennakeshu, et. al..

"The system of the present invention may be implemented in other ways. For example, instead of using a delay, some type of phase offset that varies from frequency hop to frequency hop could be employed. In a transmitter such a delay could be introduced at baseband by rotating the I and Q waveforms prior to modulation as illustrated in FIG. 5A. Rotation by increments of 0, 90, 180 and 270.degree. are preferable so that the rotated signals, I and Q are related to the original signals in the following simple ways:

I'=I; Q'=Q(0.degree.).

I'=-Q; Q'=I(90.degree.).

I'=-I; Q'=-Q(180.degree.)

I'=Q; Q'=-I(270.degree.).

Which degree of rotation could be selected at random from hop to hop or be a function of the hop frequency control signal or follow some regular fixed pattern.

A similar technique can be used when there are two received signals. For example, the signals can be simply added together (O.degree.), or the difference of the two signals can be taken as well as other means of modifying the signals. In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/585,910 entitled "Diversity Receiving System", in the name of Paul W. Dent and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, selective diversity is used to select the best combination within a receiving system. However, in the present invention the actual most desirable combination does not matter. It is only the changing of the combination with successive frequency hops in either a random or a known way which enables the channel coding and interleaving to eliminate losses due to fading. Somewhat less complex circuity is required to perform these functions in the present invention than in the selective diversity optimization system of the above- referenced Dent application.

In the embodiment of the present invention which employs multiple receiver antennas it is possible that the signal delay chosen can be on the order of a symbol period. In such case if the demodulator can handle echo signals, then a diversity advantage can be obtained without the need of frequency hopping. While it is difficult to delay one of the antenna signals by as much as a symbol period, this can be accomplished through receiver processing using filters with different group delay characteristics." (column 6 line 55 to column 7 line 29).

Figure 5B depicts a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of receiving and delaying a signal as found in Figure 6 of U.S. Patent No. 5,991,331 entitled "System for improving the quality of a received radio signal" by Chennakeshu, et. al..

The following is a description and background to this Figure from column 7 lines 30- 53 of U.S. Patent No. 5,991,331. There are numbering references to figures only found in the U.S. Patent No. 5,991,331, these will not be set in bold type and will be denoted as such.

"Referring to Figure 5B there is illustrated an embodiment of a method for receiving and delaying a signal in accordance with the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 2-4 (U.S. Patent No. 5,991,331), Figure 5A. A signal is first transmitted by the transmitter from a single transmitting antenna, e.g., antenna 42 in FIG. 4 (U.S. Patent No. 5,991,331), in step 600. The signal is received by a first receiving antenna in step 602 and a second receiving antenna, e.g., antennas 43 and 44, respectively, in FIG. 4 (U.S. Patent No. 5,991,331), in step 604.

The signal received on the second receiving antenna in step 604 is delayed in step 606, the duration of the delay being a function of the frequency of the signal received in step 608. This changing of the frequency as a function of the signal frequency received in step 608 can be performed by adding or subtracting the two signals. However, in the present invention it is the changing of the combination with successive frequency hops in either a random or known way which enables the channel coding and interleaving to eliminate losses due to fading. Step 610 combines the received signal from the first antenna 43 (U.S. Patent No. 5,991,331) in step 602 and the delayed signal as a function of the signal frequency received at the second antenna 44 (U.S. Patent No. 5,991,331) in steps 606 and 608. The receiver 177 (U.S. Patent No. 5,991,331) next processes the combined signals in step 612, and the frequency of transmission is then hopped from a first frequency to a second frequency in step 614.

It should also be noted that while the above invention is described for radio systems, it also applicable to other wireless communications systems. Thus, as described above, antennas may refer to any device that transfers the signal either from the transmitter to a transmission medium or from the transmission medium to the receiver. Also, while frequency hopping occurs, the multiple access approach within a hop can be FDMA, TDMA, or CDMA."

There are several things to note here. The antennas are half a wavelength apart at the radio user, which is good if they are aligned normal to the pervasive wave fronts causing the deep fading, but not sufficient to make either antenna a strong, reliable signal source if they are essentially in the plane of these pervasive wave fronts. If neither antenna is a strong enough source, none of the combinations this patent discloses will make them strong enough to prevent the deep fading phenomena of rayleigh fading against the background noise or interference.

Assume for a moment that the physical relationship of the receiver antennas and the radio signal sources is conducive to picking up a channel correctly. This approach does not indicate the ability to support optimal multiple channel reception, since in selecting one combining configuration, another channel may be put into deep fading. This approach appears to only work with single channel reception by a radio user 200.

It should be noted that there is considerable growth occurring in the deployment of wireless data network systems. One key feature of a wireless data network system is that the mobile users may often require concurrent reception of several communication channels.

Another key feature of a wireless data network system is the frequent use of a notebook computer by radio users to interface to such networks. These notebook computers have the capability to include far more than the very small antennas often found on cellular telephones. By construction, a notebook computer can employ multiple planar antenna arrays. These have much greater receiving and transmitting capability than cellular telephone antennas. But the uplink path, from such user sites to the base station antenna sites, will still contend with multi-path fading effects. Delay through active components has been discussed in several places in this document.

Figure 6 depicts a block diagram of one embodiment of the invention of a radio signal repeating apparatus of a CDMA communication system as found in Figure 1 in U.S. Patent No. 6,035,218 entitled "Radio signal repeating apparatus of a code division multiple access communication system" by Oh, et al.

The summary of invention states (column 1 line 60 to column 2 line 7, U.S. Patent No. 6,035,218) "a radio signal repeating apparatus of a CDMA communication system includes a first antenna; a second antenna distributively arranged in a different spacial relationship from the first antenna; one base station; and a distributed antenna interface, connected between the base station and the first and second antennas, for receiving a signal transmitted from the base station, delaying the received signal for a preset time, and transmitting the undelayed signal and the delayed signal to the first and second antennas, respectively."

Note that delay can only be applied to one of two antennas. The delay is a preset time amount and the selection of which antenna to delay cannot be changed. There is no discussion of dynamic configuration of delay to optimize performance based upon where the radio users find themselves in terms of either the uplink or downlink experienced propagation effects.

The discussion of Figure 6 (column 2 line 65 to column 3 line 42, U.S. Patent No. 6,035,218) states "a radio signal repeating apparatus of a CDMA communication system according to the present invention includes a base station 700 and a distributed antenna apparatus 750. The base station 700 has a digital signal processor 710 for processing a digital signal in order to generate an intermediate frequency signal and, further, for processing a received intermediate frequency signal to restore a digital signal. The base station 700 further includes a transceiver 720 for processing the intermediate frequency signal generated by the digital signal processor 710 and provided thereto in order to transmit a CDMA high frequency signal to the exterior (i.e., external to the base station). The transceiver 720 also processes a CDMA high frequency signal received from the exterior to generate an intermediate frequency signal. It is to be appreciated that the construction of the base station 700 is known in the art. The distributed antenna apparatus 750 includes a distributed antenna interface (DAI) 800 and a distributed antenna element (DAE) 900, both employing time diversity and space diversity in order to support service even in a radio signal shadow area, such as the interior of a building, a subway station, an underground arcade, etc.

The DAI 800 is electrically connected between the transceiver 720 of the base station 700 and the DAE 900. The DAI 800 receives, through its terminal Tx.sub.-- IN, a high frequency signal Sll approximately between 869-894 MHz transmitted from the transceiver 720, attenuates and amplifies the signal Sll, and generates the attenuated and amplified signal through its terminal Tx.sub.-- OUT A as a signal S14. Further, the DAI 800 delays the attenuated and amplified signal for a prescribed time, and generates the delayed signal through its terminal Tx.sub.-- OUT B as a signal SI 5. Among signals generated from the DAI 800, the signal S15 causes a mobile station to operate as a RAKE receiver (i.e., a diversity receiver) and is delayed by approximately 1.25 .mu.s as compared with the signal S14. The DAI 800 also receives a signal S16 of approximately between 824-849 MHz and a signal S17 of approximately between 824-849 MHz through its terminals Rx.sub.-- IN A and Rx.sub.-- IN B, respectively. The DAI 800 attenuates and amplifies the received signals S16 and SI 7, generates the attenuated and amplified signals as signals S12 and SI 3, respectively, and supplies the signals S12 and S13 to the transceiver 720 of the base station 700 through its terminals Rx.sub.-- OUT A and Rx.sub.-- OUT B, respectively."

"One distributed element (i.e., 900A1, 900A2, 900B1, 900B2) transmits a signal received from the DAI 800 or another distributed element to the mobile station through an antenna (i.e., ANT Al, ANT A2, ANT BI, ANT B2) and transmits a signal received from the mobile station to another distributed element or the DAI 800. Each distributed element delays the CDMA signal which is transmitted from the transceiver 720 of the base station 700 and processed by the DAI 800. Two distributed elements of the first node, Node #1 respectively receive signals delayed by approximately 0 .mu.s (undelayed) and 1.25 .mu.s (delayed) from the DAI 800. The two distributed elements of Node #1 then respectively transmit signals further delayed by approximately 2.5 .mu.s, thereby resulting in signals respectively delayed by approximately 2.5 .mu.s (0 .mu.s+2.5 .mu.s) and 3.75 .mu.s (1.25 .mu.s+2.5 .mu.s), to the next node, Node #2. The two distributed elements of Node #1 then also respectively transmit the received signals to the mobile station through the antennas ANT Al and ANT BI. Since the mobile station receives signals transmitted from two nodes, as previously mentioned, the mobile station can operate as a RAKE receiver. For example, if the mobile station moves to the second node from the first node, since the strength of the 0 .mu.s and 1.25 .mu.s delayed signals becomes smaller and the strength of 2.5 .mu.s and 3.75 .mu.s delayed signals becomes larger, the mobile station receives signals provided from the second node. This means that the mobile station operates as the RAKE receiver." (column 3 line 62-column 4 line 22, U.S. Patent No. 6,035,218)

Note that delay can only be applied to one of two antennas in each antenna pair. The delay is a preset time amount and the selection of which antenna of the antenna pair to delay cannot be changed. The time delay through each DAI is a preset time amount, thus there is no discussion of dynamic configuration of the DAI delay. There is no discussion of dynamic configuration of delay to optimize performance based upon where the radio users find themselves in terms of either the their experienced uplink or downlink propagation effects. Further, there is a consistent discussion of the use of RAKE receivers, applicable only to CDMA technology.

Figure 7 depicts the DAI 800 shown in Figure 6 of this document (Figure 1 U.S. Patent No. 6,035,218) which is Figure 2A of U.S. Patent No. 6,035,218 entitled "Radio signal repeating apparatus of a code division multiple access communication system" by Oh, et al.

"[T]he signal Sll of approximately between 869-894 MHz, transmitted from the transceiver 720 of the base station 700, passes through an attenuator 811 and an amplifier 812 and is divided into signals S21 and S22 by a 2-directional power divider 813. The signal S22.is delayed by approximately 1.25 .mu.s by a delayer 816. This delay value causes the mobile station to operate as the RAKE receiver because there is typically needed a delay of approximately 1 .mu.s or more under the circumstances associated with an 800 MHz mobile communication system. The attenuation caused by the delayer 816 on signal S22 is offset by amplifying S22 in an amplifier 817. Normal generation of the signals S21 and S22 is monitored by directional couplers 814 and 818, respectively. Thereafter, the signals S21 and S22 are again attenuated by attenuators 815 and 819 and output as the signals S14 and S15 through the terminals Tx.sub.-- OUT A and Tx.sub.-- OUT B, respectively." (column 4 lines 24-40, U.S. Patent No. 6,035,218)

Again note that the time delay through each DAI is a preset time amount, thus there is no discussion of dynamic configuration of the DAI delay. There is no discussion of dynamic configuration of delay to optimize performance based upon where the radio users find themselves in tenns of either their experienced uplink or downlink propagation effects. Further, there is a consistent discussion of the use of RAKE receivers, applicable only to CDMA technology.

Figure 8 depicts the DAI 800 shown in Figure 6 of this document (Figure 1 U.S. Patent No. 6,035,218) which is Figure 2B of U.S. Patent No. 6,035,218 entitled "Radio signal repeating apparatus of a code division multiple access communication system" by Oh, et al.

Note that there is no discussion of dynamic configuration of the DAI delay. There is no discussion of dynamic configuration of delay to optimize performance based upon where the radio users find themselves in terms of either the uplink or downlink propagation effects they are experiencing.

Figure 9 depicts the distributed element (i.e., 900A1, 900A2, 900B1, 900B2) shown in Figure 6 of this document (Figure 1 U.S. Patent No. 6,035,218) which is Figure 3 of U.S. Patent No. 6,035,218 entitled "Radio signal repeating apparatus of a code division multiple access communication system" by Oh, et al.

"The distributed element transmits (hereinafter, referred to as a "forward antenna path") a signal received from the DAI 800 or another distributed element to the mobile station through an antenna (i.e., ANT Al, ANT A2, ANT BI, ANT B2), and transmits (hereinafter, referred to as a "reverse antenna path") a signal received from the mobile station through the antenna to the DAI 800 or another distributed element. Moreover, the distributed element transmits (hereinafter, referred to as a "forward repeating path") a signal received from the DAI 800 or another distributed element to still another distributed element, and transmits (hereinafter, referred to as "reverse repeating path") a signal received from another distributed element to still another distributed element or the DAI 800. In FIG. 9, reference symbols PTH1, PTH2, PTH3 and PTH4 designate the forward repeating path, the forward antenna path, the reverse antenna path and the reverse repeating path, respectively." (column 4 line 55 to column 5 line 6, U.S. Patent No. 6,035,218)

"The forward path will now be described.

A signal received by the distributed element is adjusted in its level by a variable attenuator 911 so that a loss (corresponding to a length d shown in FIG. 6 (1 in U.S. Patent No. 6,035,218) ) associated with a cable connected between the distributed elements or between the DAI 800 and the distributed element can be compensated on the forward repeating path PTH1. If the type of cable and the length d of the cable are known and, thus, the loss of the cable is determined, an amplifier 912 may amplify a level corresponding to the loss. However, the length d of the cable may differ according to the distributed element and, thus, the cable loss varies. Therefore, an output level of the forward/reverse repeating path is maintained at a constant value by adjusting this attenuation value by use of the variable attenuator 911 when installing the system as described herein. The signal is then provided to an amplifier 912 where it is amplified and then to a two-directional power divider 913 where it is divided into two signals, that is, a repeating path signal S31 and an antenna path signal S32. The repeating path signal S31 is delayed by approximately 2.5 .mu.s by a delayer 914, amplified by an amplifier 915 by an amount offsetting the attenuated amount of the delayer 914, and transmitted to another distributed element. The antenna path signal S32 is again controlled by a variable attenuator 916 so that a transmitting signal generated through an antenna terminal may be a constant level. A signal generated from the variable attenuator 916 is amplified by an amplifier 917, transmitted to the antenna through a duplexer 920, and emitted into space. The emitted signal is received by the mobile station.

The reverse path will now be described.

A signal received by the distributed element is adjusted in its level by a variable attenuator 923 so that a loss associated with a cable connected between the distributed elements can be compensated for on the reverse repeating path. The signal attenuated by the variable attenuator 923 is amplified by an amplifier 923, delayed by a delayer 925 by approximately 2.5 .mu.s, and added to a reverse antenna path signal S33 by a two-directional power combiner 926. A signal received from the antenna is transmitted to a low noise amplifier 921 through the duplexer 920. The low noise amplified signal is controlled in its level by a variable attenuator 922 for constantly adjusting a level of the reverse antenna path signal. The reverse antenna path signal S33 adjusted in its level by the variable attenuator 922 is added to a reverse repeating path signal S34 by the power combiner 926, amplified by an amplifier 927 and transmitted to the DAI 800 or the distributed element." (column 5 lines 7-55, U.S. Patent No. 6,035,218)

Note that the time delay through each DAI is a preset time amount, thus incapable of dynamic configuration of the DAI delay. There is no discussion of determining which radio users are experiencing fast fading. Consequently there can be no discussion of dynamic configuration of delay to optimize performance based upon the radio users and either the uplink or downlink propagation effects they are experiencing.

Consider further U.S. Patent No. 5,905,718 entitled "Communication system for multicasting delay-adjusted signals on same radio frequencies to adjoining cells" by Kurokami, et al.. The Abstract of U.S. Patent No. 5,905,718 states "... Interference between the transmitted signals is avoided by adjusting the relative propagation delay times of the transmission links so that the signals received by the mobile station occur within the tapped-delay line length of the equalizer."

Figure 10A depicts a block diagram of a cellular radio communication system as found in Figure 1 of U.S Patent No. 5,905,718, entitled "Communication system for multicasting delay-adjusted signals on same radio frequencies to adjoining cells" by Kurokami , et al..

Figure 10B depicts a schematic illustration of a cluster of mutually adjoining cells in which the base stations of the invention are respectively located as found in Figure 2 of U.S Patent No. 5,905,718, entitled "Communication system for multicasting delay- adjusted signals on same radio frequencies to adjoining cells" by Kurokami , et al..

Figure 11A depicts a block diagram of a modification of Figure 10A in which the delay circuits are provided in a central station as found in Figure 3 of U.S Patent No. 5,905,718, entitled "Communication system for multicasting delay-adjusted signals on same radio frequencies to adjoining cells" by Kurokami , et al.. "Referring now to FIG. 10A, there is shown a cellular radio communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the system, a central station 1010 and a plurality of remote base stations 1011, 1012 and 1013 connected to the central station via coaxial cables 1014, 1015, 1016, respectively, to cover a cluster of mutually adjoining cells 1011A, 1012A and 1013A (FIG. 10B). At the central station, a downlink information signal is converted to a coded signal by a channel coder 1020 to permit error correction of the signal at the receive site. The output of channel coder 1020 is fed to a multiplexer 1021 where it is multiplexed with a pilot signal from an oscillator 1022. The multiplexed signal is transmitted from the central station to remote base stations 1011, 1012, 1013 via the respective transmission links.

At base station 1011, the multiplexed signal is applied through a variable delay circuit 1030-1 to a demultiplexer 1031-1 where the signal is demultiplexed into the coded information signal and the pilot signal. The pilot signal from the demultiplexer 1031-1 is supplied to a phase comparator 1032-1 for phase comparison with the output of a frequency divider 1035-1. The high frequency component of the output of phase comparator 1032-1 is removed by a lowpass filter 1033-1. The filtered signal is used to drive a voltage-controlled oscillator 1034-1 to produce a radio frequency carrier. The frequency divider 1035-1 divides the carrier frequency so that its output' is equal to the frequency of the pilot signal. The carrier frequency is therefore maintained constant when the frequency divider output is phase locked to the pilot signal by the closed-loop feedback operation. The coded signal from the demultiplexer 1031-1 is modulated in a transmitter 1036-1 onto the radio frequency carrier from the VCO 1034-1 and power-amplified and applied to an antenna 1037-1 for transmission.

Similar processes proceed in base stations 1012 and 1013. At each of these base stations, the multiplexed input signal is passed through variable delay circuit 1030-2 (1030-3) and separated into the coded information signal and the pilot signal by demultiplexer 1031-2 (1031-3) and the coded signal is modulated onto a radio frequency carrier produced by NCO 1034-2 (1034-3) and transmitted from antenna 1037-2 (1037-3). The carrier frequency is maintained constant by phase-locking the output of frequency divider 1035-2 (1035-3) to the pilot signal through phase-locked loop. Therefore, the downlink signal is transmitted from all the base stations on carriers of the same frequency. Within a cluster of cells 1011A, 1012A, 1013A, a mobile subscriber station 1017 receives signals from one or more of these cell sites. Subscriber station 1017 includes a receiver 1041 that feeds the baseband component of the signal detected at antenna 1040 to a channel decoder 1042 where the original information signal is detected from the coded signal. The output of channel decoder 1042 is supplied to an equalizer 1043. If the subscriber station 1017 is close to one of the base stations, the strength of the received signal is so strong that no interference from the other base stations exists. If the subscriber station 1017 is at or near the boundary between adjoining cells, receiving signals from antennas 1037-1 and 1037- 2, for example, via transmission paths 1018 and 1019 as illustrated in FIG. 10A, these signals are of substantially equal intensity and interference results. However, one of these signals is canceled by the equalizer 1043 since the transmission paths 1018 and 1019 can be treated as multipath fading channels.

One example of equalization is by the use of a decision feedback equalizer formed by tapped delay-line filters, or transversal filters. For proper operation of the equalizer, the maximum time difference between any of the multipath fading channels must be smaller than the delay-line length of the equalizer. This is achieved by adjusting variable delay circuits 1030-1, 1030-2 and 1030-3 to reduce the differences between the propagation delays, or lengths of coaxial cables 1014, 1015 and 1016 from the central station 1010.

For full-duplex operation, uplink paths must be provided in the system. However, since interference occurs only between downlink signals at the subscriber station, the uplink paths of the system are omitted for simplicity.

For ease of adjustment of the delay circuits 1030-1 to 1030-3, these delay circuits are preferably provided in the central station 1010 as shown in FIG. 11A between the output of multiplexer 1021 and the respective transmission links 1014, 1015, 1016." (column 2 line 38 to column 3 line 51 U.S Patent No. 5,905,718)

Note that the adjustment of delay circuits 1030-1,2,3 is done to neutralize the delay effects from propagating the signals between central station 1010 and the base stations 1011, 1012, and 1013. This is supposedly a good thing, but it is done without any mechanism to examine whether it actually aids in communication with a particular radio user. Figure 11B depicts a block diagram of a cellular radio communication system according to a further modification as found in Figure 4 of U.S Patent No. 5,905,718, entitled "Communication system for multicasting delay-adjusted signals on same radio frequencies to adjoining cells" by Kurokami , et al..

"The transmission links may be optical links. FIG. 11B shows a modified embodiment of this invention using optical fibers 1014A, 1015A, 1016A for connecting the central station 1010A to base stations 1011A, 1012A and 1013A. To take advantage of the broad bandwidth of optical links, the central station includes a transmitter 1051 that modulates the output of channel coder 1050 onto a radio frequency carrier from oscillator 1052. The up-converted signal from transmitter 1051 is fed to an electro-optical converter 1053 where it is converted to an optical signal and launched into an optical fiber 1054 and transmitted through optical links 1014A, 1015A and 1016A to base stations 1011A, 1012A, 1013A. Input optical signals from links 1014A, 1015A, 1016A are converted to electrical signals by opto-electrical converters 1060-1, 1060-2, 1060-3, delayed by respective variable delay circuits 1061-1, 1061-2, 1061-3 and amplified by power amplifiers 1062-1, 1062-2, 1062-3 and fed to antennas 1037-1, 1037-2 and 1037-3 for transmission. In a manner similar to the previous embodiment, variable delay circuits 1061-1, 1061-2 and 1061-3 are adjusted so that the maximum time difference between any of multipath fading channels from antennas 1037-1, 1037-2, 1037-3 to the mobile station 1017 is smaller than the delay-line length of the equalizer of the mobile station." (column 4 line 52 to column 5 line 6 U.S Patent No. 5,905,718). Note that there were some numbering discrepancies which differ from the downloaded material which have been fixed in this paragraph to make the figure and text compatible, and do not represent any attempt to alter the meaning of the cited material.

Figure 11C depicts a block diagram of a modification of Figure 11B in which the delay circuits are provided in the central station as found in Figure 5 of U.S Patent No. 5,905,718, entitled "Communication system for multicasting delay-adjusted signals on same radio frequencies to adjoining cells" by Kurokami , et al..

"As shown in FIG. 11C, delay circuits 1061-1 to 1061-3 may be provided, for delay adjustment purposes, in the central station 1010A between the output of transmitter 1051 and a plurality of electrooptical converters 1053-1 to 1053-3 which are connected to the respective transmission links 1014A, 1015A, 1016A." (column 5 lines 7-12 U.S. Patent No. 5,905,718)

U.S. Patent No. 5,905,718 speaks to using delay adjustment to compensate between differing paths to the base stations from the central station to minimize the propagation difference between them. The only constraint imposed upon these delay circuits, do not delay the signals so much that the user's receiver cannot handle them in its equalizer. There is no discernible discussion disclosing how interference is determined, or how the system actually resolves interference issues. There was no discernible discussion of how the invention of U.S. Patent No. 5,905,718 overcomes the interference.

Another use of controlled delay is found in U.S Patent No. 5,887,037, entitled "Introducing processing delay as a multiple of. the time slot duration" by Golden , et al.. The invention provides "an apparatus for performance improvement of a burst mode digital wireless receiver. The apparatus comprises a processing circuit for processing a plurality of received signals and providing a processed signal and a delay circuit for introducing a predetermined delay to the processed signal. The delay circuit is coupled to the processing circuit. The predetermined delay is such that the processed signal is delayed to correspond with a later data burst." (column 2 lines 13- 21, U.S. Patent No. 5,887,037)

"In TDMA mobile radio systems, such as IS- 136, in the uplink from mobile station to base station, data is transmitted periodically in time slots or bursts of a known and fixed duration. Each data burst is processed, essentially independently of other data bursts, by the base station receiver. Thus, it is possible to design the applique so that it introduces artificial delay in excess of its true signal processing delay, so that the total delay through the applique is nominally a multiple of the time slot duration. With this arrangement, the delayed data burst arrives nominally aligned with a later time slot, rather than simply very late for its own time slot."

Figure 12 depicts an operational flow chart as found in Figure 6 of U.S. Patent No. 5,887,037, entitled "Introducing processing delay as a multiple of the time slot duration" by Golden , et al. "Referring to FIG. 12 in conjunction with FIG. 3 (U.S. Patent No. 5,887,037), it can be seen that the processing comprises selecting a predetermined symbol pattern, within a sync sequence 1174 (shown in FIG. 4B U.S. Patent No. 5,887,037), within a time slot 1172 (shown in FIG. 4B U.S. Patent No. 5,887,037) in step 1102. Generating weights, wherein a mean squared error of the output signal is minimized in step 1104. Weighing and combining the received signals in step 1106 using the generated weights from step 1104 to provide a processed signal. Delaying the processed signal in step 1108 to correspond with a later data burst."

U.S. Patent 5,887,037, while discussing processing delays of multiple time slots, does not address fast fading. Further, such relatively long delays would be far greater than a mobile user's equalizer or RAKE receiver could account for, teaching away from actually solving the problem of fast fading.

What is needed is a general mechanism for minimizing or removing rayleigh fading from all active channels, and from their radio users, at any relative location, throughout a communications radio system network. What is further needed are radio communications transceivers which systematically minimize rayleigh fading for all radio users communicating with such radio communications transceivers.

Summary of the invention

Certain embodiments of the invention include a method of operating at least one repeater transceiver in a wireless network supporting mobile users in a service area to minimize fast fading within the wireless network comprising the following. Providing a repeater delay offset plan minimizing fast fading containing at least one repeater offset referencing a repeater transceiver in the wireless network and an offset delay. Configuring the commumcation delay across the first repeater transceiver based upon the repeater offset including the reference to the first repeater transceiver to create a first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration.

Such embodiments of the invention advantageously support a repeater delay offset plan to minimize fast fading, as well as the configuring of the communication delay across repeater transceivers based upon elements of that plan to minimize fast fading effects within the service area of a network. Certain other embodiments of the invention include a program system configuring a communication delay across at least one repeater transceiver in a wireless network within a service area. The wireless network is served by a base station communicatively coupled to the repeater transceiver communicatively coupled to the mobile user within the service area. The program system is implemented as program steps residing in accessibly coupled memory of a repeater management computer managing the communication delay across the repeater transceiver to minimize fast fading in communication between the base station and the mobile user.

Such embodiments of the invention advantageously support program systems managing the communication delay across the repeater transceiver to minimize fast fading in the communication between the base station and mobile user.

Note that certain embodiments of the invention include at least one repeater transceiver and base station transceiver both actively communicating with a radio user. Certain other embodiments of the invention include at least two repeater transceivers actively communicating with a radio user.

These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed descriptions and studying the various figures of the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 depicts a typical radio communications situation involving a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) 100 linked 110 to antenna site module 120, from which two radiative paths 150 and 152 operate to deliver signals between antenna site module 120 and radio user 200 residing in rayleigh fast fading zone 160;

Figure 2 depicts a typical radio communications situation involving a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) 100 linked by 110 and by 112 to antenna site modules 120 and 122, respectively, from which radiative paths 150 and 152 operate to deliver signals between antenna site module 120, as well as paths (not shown) between antenna site module 122 and radio user 200 residing in rayleigh fast fading zone 162 within fast fading zone 160; Figure 3 depicts a schematic of a GSM cellular telephone network as found in Figure 1 of U.S. Patent No. 5,905,962 entitled "Apparatus and method for data transmission to inhibit radio signal fading with sequential transmission of data groups based upon power levels" by Richardson;

Figure 4 depicts BTS 100 linked 514 to a repeater system interface 510 further communicating via link 512 to antenna pods 520 and 522 further communicating with repeaters 500 and repeaters 502 covering two cell areas;

Figure 5A depicts a block diagram illustrating the introduction of phase delays into a baseband signal by rotation of the I and Q waveforms prior to modulation as found in Figure 5 of U.S. Patent No. 5,991,331 entitled "System for improving the quality of a received radio signal" by Chennakeshu, et. al;

Figure 5B depicts a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of receiving and delaying a signal as found in Figure 6 of U.S. Patent No. 5,991,331 entitled "System for improving the quality of a received radio signal" by Chennakeshu, et. al.;

Figure 6 depicts a block diagram of one embodiments of the invention of a radio signal repeating apparatus of a CDMA communication system as found in Figure 1 in U.S. Patent No. 6,035,218 entitled "Radio signal repeating apparatus of a code division multiple access communication system" by Oh, et al.;

Figure 7 depicts the DAI 800 shown in Figure 6 of this document (Figure 1 U.S. Patent No. 6,035,218) which is Figure 2A of U.S. Patent No. 6,035,218 entitled "Radio signal repeating apparatus of a code division multiple access communication system" by Oh, et al.;

Figure 8 depicts the DAI 800 shown in Fig re 6 of this document (Figure 1 U.S. Patent No. 6,035,218) which is Figure 2B of U.S. Patent No. 6,035,218 entitled "Radio signal repeating apparatus of a code division multiple access communication system" by Oh, et al.;

Figure 9 depicts the distributed element (i;e;, 900A1, 900A2, 900B1, 900B2) shown in Figure 6 of this document (Figure 1 U.S. Patent No. 6,035,218) which is Figure 3 of U.S. Patent No. 6,035,218 entitled "Radio signal repeating apparatus of a code division multiple access communication system" by Oh, et al.;

Figure 10A depicts a block diagram of a cellular radio communication system as found in Figure 1 of U.S. Patent No. 5,905,718, entitled "Communication system for multicasting delay-adjusted signals on same radio frequencies to adjoining cells" by Kurokami , et al.;

Figure 10B depicts a schematic illustration of a cluster of mutually adjoining cells in which the base stations of the invention are respectively located as found in Figure 2 of U.S. Patent No. 5,905,718, entitled "Communication system for multicasting delay- adjusted signals on same radio frequencies to adjoining cells" by Kurokami , et al;

Figure 11 A depicts a block diagram of a modification of Figure 10A in which the delay circuits are provided in a central station as found in Figure 3 of U.S. Patent No. 5,905,718, entitled "Communication system for multicasting delay-adjusted signals on same radio frequencies to adjoining cells" by Kurokami , et al;

Figure 11B depicts a block diagram of a cellular radio communication system according to a further modification as found in Figure 4 of U.S. Patent No. 5,905,718, entitled "Communication system for multicasting delay-adjusted signals on same radio frequencies to adjoining cells" by Kurokami , et al.;

Figure 11C depicts a block diagram of a modification of Figure 10B in which the delay circuits are provided in the central station as found in Figure 5 of U.S. Patent No. 5,905,718, entitled "Communication system for multicasting delay-adjusted signals on same radio frequencies to adjoining cells" by Kurokami , et al.;

Figure 12 depicts an operational flow chart as found in Figure 6 of U.S. Patent No. 5,887,037, entitled "Introducing processing delay as a multiple of the time slot duration" by Golden , et al;

Figure 13A depicts a flowchart performing the method of operating a wireless network of a service area to minimize fast fading in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention; Figure 13B depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2004 of Figure 13A further performing providing the repeater delay offset plan in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention;

Figure 14A depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2032 of Figure 13B further performing creating the repeater offset in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention;

Figure 14B depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2000 of Figure 13A further performing the method of operation in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention;

Figure 14C depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2008 of Figure 13 A further performing configuring the communication delay across the first repeater transceiver based upon the repeater offset in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention;

Figure 15A depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2052 of Figure 14A further performing simulating the wireless network in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention;

Figure 15B depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2012 of Figure 13A further performing configuring the communication delay across the first repeater transceiver based upon the repeater offset in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention;

Figure 15C depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2132 of Figure 15B further performing configuring the communication delay across the first repeater transceiver in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention;

Figure 16 depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2032 of Figure 13B further performing creating the repeater offset in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention;

Figure 17A depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2172 of Figure 16 further performing modifying the repeater offset including reference to the first repeater transceiver and the repeater offset and the first physical channel whenever it is time to modify the repeater offset in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention;

Figure 17B depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2172 of Figure 16 further performing monitoring the wireless network in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention;

Figure 17C depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2182 of Figure 16 further performing analyzing the quality of service measure in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention;

Figure 18A depicts a wireless network containing base station 3000 communicatively coupled 3102 to repeater transceiver with delay offset 3100 communicatively coupled 3104 to user 200, as well as base station 3000 communicatively coupled 3202 to second repeater transceiver with second delay offset 3200 communicatively coupled 3204 to user 200, in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention;

Figure 18B depicts a wireless network containing base station 3000 communicatively coupled 3302 to repeater interface 3300, which is communicatively coupled 3106 to repeater transceiver with delay offset 3100 communicatively coupled 3104 to user 200, as well as communicatively coupled 3206 to second repeater transceiver with second delay offset 3200 communicatively coupled 3204 to user 200, in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention;

Figure 19 depicts the wireless network of Figure 18A where the network containing base station 3000, and both repeater transceivers 3100 and 3200, are controlled by computers;

Figure 20 depicts the wireless network of Figure 18B where the network containing base station 3000, and both repeater transceivers 3100 and 3200, are controlled by computers as shown in Figure 19 and repeater interface 3300 is further controlled by a computer;

Figure 21A depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2012 of Figure 13A further performing configuring the communication delay across the first repeater transceiver based upon the repeater offset; Figure 21B depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2012 of Figure 13A further performing configuring the communication delay across the first repeater transceiver as program steps residing in the accessibly coupled memory of the repeater management computer;

Figure 22A depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2012 of Figure 13A further performing configuring the communication delay across the first repeater transceiver comprised of program steps residing in accessibly coupled memory of the computer controlling the first repeater transceiver;

Figure 22B depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2256 of Figure 2 IB further performing sending the first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message to the first repeater transceiver;

Figure 23 A depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2256 of Figure 2 IB further performing sending the first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message to the first repeater transceiver;

Figure 23B depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2256 of Figure 21B further performing sending the first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message to the first repeater transceiver;

Figure 24A depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2256 of Figure 21B further performing sending the first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message to the first repeater transceiver; and

Figure 24B depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2242 of Figure 21A performing configuring the communication delay across the first repeater transceiver based upon the repeater offset.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Figure 13A depicts a flowchart performing the method of operating a wireless network of a service area to minimize fast fading in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention. Operation 2000 starts the operations of this flowchart. Arrow 2002 directs the flow of execution from operation 2000 to operation 2004. Operation 2004 performs providing a repeater delay offset plan to minimize fast fading in the communications between the mobile user and the base station containing at least one repeater offset including a reference to the first repeater transceiver and an offset delay. Arrow 2006 directs execution from operation 2004 to operation 2008. Operation 2008 terminates the operations of this flowchart.

Arrow 2010 directs the flow of execution from starting operation 2000 to operation 2012. Operation 2012 performs configuring the communication delay across the first repeater transceiver based upon the repeater offset including the reference to the first repeater transceiver to create a first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration. Arrow 2014 directs execution from operation 2012 to operation 2008. Operation 2008 terminates the operations of this flowchart.

Such embodiments of the invention advantageously support the repeater delay offset plan to minimize fast fading, as well as the configuring of the communication delay across repeater transceivers based upon elements of that plan to minimize fast fading effects within the service area of a network.

The wireless network is served by a base station communicatively coupled to a repeater transceiver communicatively coupled to the mobile user within the service area.

Certain other embodiments of the invention may include a program system configuring a communication delay across at least one repeater transceiver in a wireless network within a service area. The program system is implemented as program steps residing in accessibly coupled memory of a repeater management computer managing the communication delay across the repeater transceiver to minimize fast fading in communication between the base station and the mobile user.

Such embodiments of the invention advantageously support program systems managing the communication delay across the repeater transceiver to minimize fast fading in the communication between the base station and mobile user. The program system may contain only the operation 2004, providing the repeater delay offset plan. A human may perform operation 2012, the configuring of the communication delay across the first repeater.

As used herein, a-computer includes, but is not limited to, digital computers, analog computers and mixed digital and analog computers. A digital computer includes, but is not limited to, an instruction processing computer, an inference engine and a neural network engine. An instruction processing computer includes, but is not limited to, a Single Instruction Single Datapath (SISD), Single Instmction Multiple Datapath (SIMD), Multiple Instmction Single Datapath (MISD) and Multiple Instruction Multiple Datapath (MIMD) computer.

As used herein, all instruction processing computers operate with accessibly coupled memory to fetch instructions, which are processed to determine the subsequent state of the instruction processor and determine assertions made by the instruction processing computer to external circuitry. As used herein, the accessibly coupled memory may be physically located in the instruction processing computer package, or may be externally coupled to the instmction processing computer. The externally accessibly coupled memory may or may not be continuously coupled to the instmction processing computer. The accessibly coupled memory may include volatile or nonvolatile memory components, or both volatile and nonvolatile memory components.

In multiple instruction processing computers, the individual instmction processors may or may not be the same architecture. By way of example, in a digital radio computer, there are often separate instmction processors to handle outbound and inbound communications traffic, often with different instruction sets and operational capabilities. In some cases the outbound and/or inbound instmction processors may in turn possess concurrently executing component instmction processors dedicated to specific components of the outbound or inbound communication tasks.

Inference engines include, but are not limited to, rule based and constraint based inference engines. Such engines act upon a fact database by utilizing an inference rale collection, which is sometimes contained in the fact database to resolve a truth value for an assertion, or to alter the fact database given an assertion. The resolved truth value may belong to a finite set, such as the set containing 0 and 1, or belong to a set containing a range of values, for example, a set of numbers (fractions, floating point, etc.), between 0 and 1. Certain assertions within such inference engines, when proven, may trigger controls driving a system external to the computer.

As used herein, all inference engines operate with accessibly coupled memory to store either the fact database or inference rales or both. As used herein, the accessibly coupled memory may be physically located in the inference engine package, or may be externally coupled to the inference engine. The externally accessibly coupled memory may or may not be continuously coupled to the inference engine. The accessibly coupled memory may include volatile or nonvolatile memory components, or both volatile and nonvolatile memory components.

Analog computers include, but are not limited to, collections of analog circuits coupled together into one or more electrical or photonic circuits which possess an analog computer memory. As used herein, accessibly coupled memory includes, but is not limited to, switch settings and bootstrap configuration circuits using an accessibly coupled memory to drive specific nodes of the analog computer to specific conditions.

Note that a computer as used herein may comprise an instruction processing computer, an inference engine and an analog computer, or any combination of the three.

Program steps as used herein for instruction processing computers refer to collections of instructions performing a step or operation. Note that distinct program steps may be formatted in different instruction formats, including, but not limited to, interpreted instruction formats including, but not limited to, JAVA, HTML and the native instruction set of the accessibly coupled instruction processor.

Program steps as used herein for inference engines refer to collections of facts and/or inference rales which form the inference system used to carry out a step or operation. Note that distinct program steps may include collections of facts and/or inference rules for distinct inference systems. By way of example, a fuzzy logic inference system and a constraint based inference engine may both be performed on the same inference engine, each with distinct program steps using distinct formats. Program steps as used herein for analog computers refer to memory components supporting the operations or steps of various embodiments of the invention.

Note that a program system as disclosed herein includes, but is not limited to, program steps residing in accessibly coupled memory to at least one computer. Note that in certain embodiments of the invention, accessibly coupled memory may include more than one accessibly coupled memory.

Providing the repeater delay offset plan may further comprise creating the repeater offset, including the reference to the first repeater transceiver and the offset delay, as well as updating the repeater offset plan with the repeater offset.

Figure 13B depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2004 of Figure 13 A further performing providing the repeater delay offset plan.

Arrow 2030 directs the flow of execution from starting operation 2004 to operation 2032. Operation 2032 performs creating the repeater offset, including the reference to the first repeater transceiver and the offset delay. Arrow 2034 directs execution from operation 2032 to operation 2036. Operation 2036 performs updating the repeater offset plan with the repeater offset. Arrow 2038 directs execution from operation 2036 to operation 2040. Operation 2040 terminates the operations of this flowchart.

Such embodiments of the invention advantageously support creating repeater offsets and inserting them into the repeater delay offset plan.

Creating the repeater offset may further include a field technician creating the repeater offset. This advantageously incorporates field generated experimental results to minimize fast fading.

Creating the repeater offset may further include simulating the wireless network with a goal of fast fading minimization across the service area to create the repeater offset.

Figure 14A depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2032 of Figure 13B further perfoπning creating the repeater offset.

Arrow 2050 directs the flow of execution from starting operation 2032 to operation 2052. Operation 2052 performs simulating the wireless network with a goal of fast fading minimization across the service area to create the repeater offset. Arrow 2054 directs execution from operation 2052 to operation 2056. Operation 2056 terminates the operations of this flowchart.

Such embodiments of the invention advantageously support network system simulation with fast fading minimization goals.

The service area may be supported by one wireless network, or by at least two wireless networks. The repeater transceiver may be communicatively coupled between one base station and a mobile user, or it may be communicatively coupled between at least two base stations communicating with the mobile user. When multiple base stations communicatively couple through a repeater transceiver to a mobile user, the base stations may belong to the same wireless network, or to at least two wireless networks.

Note that the network system simulation may focus on just the portion of the wireless network between one or more base stations and one or more mobile users in a service area.

The method may further comprise providing a quality of service log across the service area noting fast fading events. Configuring the communication delay across the first repeater transceiver based upon the repeater offset may include noting the first repeater ttansceiver delay offset configuration in the quality of service log of the service area. And simulating the wireless network may include simulating the wireless network across the service area based upon the quality of service log with a goal of fast fading minimization to create the repeater offset.

Such embodiments of the invention advantageously support network system simulation with fast fading mirήmization goals based upon quality of service logs.

Figure 14B depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2000 of Figure 13A further perfonning the method of operation.

Arrow 2070 directs the flow of execution from starting operation 2000 to operation 2072. Operation 2072 performs providing a quality of service log across the service area noting fast fading events. Arrow 2074 directs execution from operation 2072 to operation 2076. Operation 2076 terminates the operations of this flowchart.

Figure 14C depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2008 of Figure 13A further performing configuring the communication delay across the first repeater transceiver based upon the repeater offset.

Arrow 2090 directs the flow of execution from starting operation 2008 to operation 2092. Operation 2092 performs noting the first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration in the quality of service log of the service area. Arrow 2094 directs execution from operation 2092 to operation 2096. Operation 2096 terminates the operations of this flowchart.

Figure 15A depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2052 of Figure 14A further performing simulating the wireless network.

Arrow 2110 directs the flow of execution from startmg operation 2052 to operation 2112. Operation 2112 performs simulating the wireless network across the service area based upon the quality of service log with a goal of fast fading mi mization to create the repeater offset. Arrow 2114 directs execution from operation 2112 to operation 2116. Operation 2116 terminates the operations of this flowchart.

Such embodiments of the invention advantageously support wireless network simulation across the service area based upon the quality of service log with a goal of fast fading minimization.

The repeater offset may further include a physical channel specification. Configuring the communication delay across the first repeater transceiver may include configuring the communication delay across the first repeater transceiver based upon the repeater offset including the reference to the first repeater transceiver for the physical channel to create the first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration.

Figure 15B depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2012 of Figure 13A further performing configuring the communication delay across the first repeater ttansceiver based upon the repeater offset. Arrow 2130 directs the flow of execution from starting operation 2012 to operation 2132. Operation 2132 performs configuring the communication delay across the first repeater transceiver based upon the repeater offset including the reference to the first repeater transceiver for the physical channel to create the first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration. Arrow 2134 directs execution from operation 2132 to operation 2136. Operation 2136 terminates the operations of this flowchart.

Such embodiments of the invention advantageously support configuring communication delays across the repeater transceiver for physical channels. Distinct physical channels may be separately configured across the repeater transceiver to minimize fast fading effects.

Configuring the communication delay across the first repeater transceiver may further comprise configuring the communication delay across the first repeater transceiver based upon the repeater offset, including the reference to the first repeater transceiver for the physical channel at a first time, to create the first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration.

Such embodiments of the invention advantageously support start times for specific physical communication delays across the repeater transceiver. An example of the advantageous nature of this can be seen in time varying usage along a major roadway. Morning rush hours tend to see most of the traffic coming from one direction, with automobile ttaffic slowing down and halting in certain distinct portions of the roadway compared to evening rush hour congestion tendencies in other portions of the roadway. Changing the communication delays across repeater transceivers, based on time related phenomena, minimizes the effects of fast fading. Changing the communication delays for specific physical channels across the repeater transceivers at specific times will advantageously aid minimization of fast fading.

Figure 15C depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2132 of Figure 15B further performing configuring the communication delay across the first repeater transceiver.

Arrow 2150 directs the flow of execution from starting operation 2132 to operation

2152. Operation 2152 performs configuring the communication delay across the first repeater ttansceiver based upon the repeater offset including the reference to the first repeater transceiver for the physical channel at a first time to create the first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration. Arrow 2154 directs execution from operation 2152 to operation 2156. Operation 2156 terminates the operations of this flowchart.

Creating the repeater offset may be further comprised of the following. Monitoring fast fading events on the wireless network on a first physical channel to create a quality of service measure on the first physical channel. Analyzing the quality of service measure on the first physical channel to determine time to modify the repeater offset. And modifying the repeater offset including reference to the first repeater transceiver and the repeater offset and the first physical channel whenever it is time to modify the repeater offset.

Note that physical channels as used herein include physical channels with local-time domains, and sequences of local-time physical channels over time.

Such embodiments of the invention advantageously support monitoring fast fading on a physical channel within the wireless network, leading to modifying the repeater offset whenever the quality of service measure is determined to require it.

Figure 16 depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2032 of Figure 13B further performing creating the repeater offset.

Arrow 2170 directs the flow of execution from starting operation 2032 to operation 2172. Operation 2172 performs monitoring fast fading events on the wireless network on a first of the physical channels to create a quality of service measure on the first physical channel. Arrow 2174 directs execution from operation 2172 to operation 2176. Operation 2176 terminates the operations of this flowchart.

Arrow 2180 directs the flow of execution from starting operation 2032 to operation 2182. Operation 2182 performs analyzing the quality of service measure on the first physical channel to determine time to modify the repeater offset. Arrow 2184 directs execution from operation 2182 to operation 2176. Operation 2176 terminates the operations of this flowchart.

Arrow 2190 directs the flow of execution from starting operation 2032 to operation 2192. Operation 2192 performs modifying the repeater offset including reference to the first repeater transceiver and the repeater offset and the first physical channel whenever it is time to modify the repeater offset. Arrow 2194 directs execution from operation 2192 to operation 2176. Operation 2176 terminates the operations of this flowchart.

Figure 17A depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2192 of Figure 16 further performing modifying the repeater offset including reference to the first repeater transceiver and the repeater offset and the first physical channel whenever it is time to modify the repeater offset.

Arrow 2200 directs the flow of execution from starting operation 2192 to operation 2202. Operation 2202 determines whether it is time to modify the repeater offset. Arrow 2204 directs execution from operation 2202 to operation 2206 when the determination is 'Yes'. Arrow 2218 directs execution to 2210 when the determination is 'No'.

Operation 2206 performs modifying the repeater offset. Arrow 2208 directs execution from operation 2206 to operation 2210. Operation 2210 terminates the operations of this flowchart.

Monitoring the wireless network may be further comprised of monitoring a first user on the first physical channel for fast fading condition to determine whether the first user is fast fading on the first physical channel. And analyzing the quality of service measure may be further comprised of analyzing the quality of service measure on the first physical channel based upon the first user to determine the optimal time to modify the repeater offset.

Such embodiments of the invention advantageously support monitoring a user on a physical channel for fast fading, as well as analyzing the quality of service to determine when to modify the repeater offset.

Figure 17B depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2172 of Figure 16 further performing monitoring the wireless network.

Arrow 2220 directs the flow of execution from startmg operation 2172 to operation 2222. Operation 2222 performs monitoring a first user on the first physical channel for a fast fading condition to determine whether the first user is fast fading on the first physical channel. Arrow 2224 directs execution from operation 2222 to operation 2226. Operation 2226 terminates the operations of this flowchart.

Figure 17C depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2182 of Figure 16 further performing analyzing the quality of service measure.

Arrow 2230 directs the flow of execution from starting operation 2182 to operation 2232. Operation 2232 performs analyzing the quality of service measure on the first physical channel based upon the first user to determine the time to modify the repeater offset. Arrow 2234 directs execution from operation 2232 to operation 2236. Operation 2236 terminates the operations of this flowchart.

Note that the offset delay included in the repeater offset may be a constant offset delay. The offset delay mcluded in the repeater offset is further comprised of a time- varying offset delay.

The wireless network may support a wireless communications protocol including a logical channel transported within a physical channel. The offset delay included in the repeater offset may further comprise a logical channel offset delay.

Certain embodiments of the invention include a wireless network for a service area minimizing fast fading for at least one mobile user within the service area. The wireless network comprises a base station communicatively coupled to a repeater transceiver communicatively coupled to the mobile user. The communication delay across the repeater transceiver is configured based upon an offset delay to minimize fast fading in communications between the mobile user and the base station.

Figure 18A depicts a wireless network containing base station 3000 communicatively coupled 3102 to a repeater transceiver with delay offset 3100 communicatively coupled 3104 to user 200, as well as to base station 3000 communicatively coupled 3202 to a second repeater transceiver with second delay offset 3200 communicatively coupled 3204 to user 200, in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.

Note that all repeater transceivers, as the term is used herein, are intermediate points in the communication between at least one base station and at least one user of the wireless network. Each repeater transceiver has an inherent propagation delay due to the nature of the propagation of electromagnetic phenomena through the repeater ttansceiver. Each repeater transceiver has an additional propagation delay across the repeater transceiver based upon its offset delay configuration. These offset delays are selected to minimize fast fading in the communication between base station 3000 and user 200.

The offset delays for a repeater transceiver may be distinct for communication from base station 3000 to user 200, when compared with communication from user 200 to base station 3000. This advantageously supports distinctive corrections fast fading effects which may be noticed in situations where there are multiple element antennas at the user site, or when there may be asymmetric resource allocation at the base station in terms of uplink versus downlink antenna allocations or due to differing physical transport in the uplink and downlink directions.

The wireless network may further comprise the base station communicatively coupled to a second repeater transceiver communicatively coupled to the mobile user. The communication delay across the second repeater transceiver is also configured based upon a second offset delay. The offset delay and second offset delay minimize fast fading in communications between the mobile user and the base station.

Communicative couplings 3102 and 3202 may employ one or more wireline or wireless physical transports layers. Wireline physical transport layers include, but are not limited to, one or more wires, coaxial cables, wave guides or optical fibers.

Communicative couplings 3104 and 3204 employ a wireless physical transport layer, and share a wireless communications frequency band in the communication between the respective repeater transceiver 3100 and 3200 with user 200. Fast fading effects are found for exactly this reason, that is, both repeater transceivers are using the same carrier frequencies.

This wireless protocol utilizing the physical transport of 3104 and 3204 will be referred to herein as the wireless protocol between the base station 3000 and user 200.

The wireless network may support a wireless communications protocol including a logical channel. The wireless network may support a wireless communications protocol including a physical channel. The wireless network may further support a wireless communications protocol including a logical channel transported within a physical channel.

The wireless communications protocol may include logical channels implemented in a time division multiple access protocol. The wireless communications protocol may include logical channels implemented in a code division multiple access protocol. The wireless communications protocol may include logical channels implemented with multiple spreading code layers. The wireless communications protocol may include logical channels implemented in both a code division multiple access protocol and a time division multiple access protocol. The wireless protocol may include logical channels implementing at least two of these implementations on different physical channels.

The offset delay may be measured within a delay range compatible with a user radio equalizer in the wireless network service area. As used herein a user radio equalizer refers to the circuitry performing equalization, which includes rake receivers when applicable.

The offset delay may be measured in units including fraction of a symbol time. As used herein, a symbol refers to the signaling of a bit, so that in IS-95 and similar CDMA wireless communications protocols, this is known as a chip.

The offset delay included in the repeater offset may be a constant offset delay. The offset delay included in the repeater offset may be a time-varying offset delay.

Configuring the communication delay across the first repeater transceiver may further include configuring the communication delay across the first repeater transceiver based upon the repeater offset to create a first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration of the logical channel transported within the physical channel.

Consider a phase-modulated signal in the wireless protocol being physically delivered to user 200, such as a GMSK signal. The phase-modulated signal is constantly changing phase as each new information symbol modulates the carrier. Now consider user 200 in a multi-path environment, where the physical situation has lead to destructive canceling of these signals, when the vector addition of all the reflected paths at the user input results in a deep fade. Assume that the reflected paths contributing to the deep fade condition are spread in time no more than a fraction of a bit. When the next symbol is transmitted and the phase of the RF carrier changes, the first path to propagate this change of phase to the user 200 will be that path with the shortest delay. Its phase will change at the user while the phase of the other reflected paths remains constant disturbing the fade condition and possibly reducing in the depth of the fade.

However, very shortly after the first path propagates through the phase change, the other paths will also change their phase, the order being dictated by the relative delays. The vector addition of the reflected paths will lead to a new resultant signal strength each time the phase change arrives on one of the reflected paths. It usually takes only a fraction of a symbol for the phase change to propagate through on all reflected paths. Once the phase change has arrived for all reflected paths, the original deep fade will again be present. This deep fade will persist for the majority of a symbol period, since it will not change again until the next symbol changes the phase on the shortest reflected path.

Consider what happens when the time spread for the reflected paths are much greater than a fraction of a bit. There would be little time, if any (particularly when the spread is greater than a bit), when the vector addition of the reflected paths would be static for long enough to create a deep fade of significant duration. The reflected paths are strongly decorrelated once the time spread is greater than a fraction of a bit.

GSM equalizers and CDMA rake receivers are designed to deal with this type of spreading effect and the user 200 radio performs far better with inter-symbol interference than RF cancellation. By introducing different fixed or dynamic delays in each repeater transceiver 3100 and 3200 in the wireless network, the time spread for the dominant paths at the user is much greater than a fraction of a symbol reducing fast fading effects in the communication between a base station and user.

Figure 18B depicts a wireless network containing base station 3000 communicatively coupled 3302 to repeater interface 3300, which is communicatively coupled 3106 to repeater transceiver with delay offset 3100 communicatively coupled 3104 to user 200, as well as communicatively coupled 3206 to second repeater transceiver with second delay offset 3200 communicatively coupled 3204 to user 200, in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.

As in Figure 18A, communicative couplings 3106 and 3206 may employ one or more wireline or wireless physical transports layers. Wireline physical transport layers include, but are not limited to, one or more wires, coaxial cables, wave guides or optical fibers.

As in Figure 18A, repeater management computer 3030 is accessibly coupled 3042 to memory 3040. Repeater management computer 3030 manages 3032 the communication delay across repeater fransceiver 3100 for communication between base station 3000 and user 200. Note that in certain embodiments of the invention, base station 3000 may directly communicate with user 200 on the same carrier frequency or carrier frequencies in use between repeater transceiver 3100 and user 200.

As in Figure 18A, the repeater delay offset plan 3044 is provided to minimize fast fading. Repeater delay offset plan 3044 contains at least one repeater offset including a reference to a first of the repeater transceivers in the wireless network and an offset delay. Repeater delay offset plan 3044 may contain one repeater offset. Repeater delay offset plan 3044 may contain two repeater offsets for different repeater transceivers. Repeater delay offset plan 3044 may contain two repeater offsets for the same repeater fransceiver to be used under differing network conditions as determined by execution of program system 2000.

As in Figure 18A, repeater management computer 3030 may further manage 3034 a communication delay for second repeater transceiver 3200.

Repeater management computer 3030 is accessibly coupled 3042 to memory 3040. Repeater management computer 3030 manages 3032 the communication delay across repeater transceiver 3100 for communication between base station 3000 and user 200. Note that in certain embodiments of the invention, base station 3000 may directly communicate with user 200 on the same carrier frequency or carrier frequencies in use between repeater transceiver 3100 and user 200. The repeater delay offset plan 3044 is provided to minimize fast fading. Repeater delay offset plan 3044 contains at least one repeater offset including a reference to a first of the repeater transceivers in the wireless network and an offset delay. Repeater delay offset plan 3044 may contain one repeater offset. Repeater delay offset plan 3044 may contain two repeater offsets for different repeater transceivers. Repeater delay offset plan 3044 may contain two repeater offsets for the same repeater ttansceiver to be used under differing network conditions as determined by execution of program system 2000.

Repeater management computer 3030 may further manage 3034 a communication delay for second repeater ttansceiver 3200.

Repeater management computer 3030 may further manage 3036 repeater interface 3300. Repeater management computer may manage 3032 repeater transceiver 3100 through communications 3036 routed through repeater interface 3300. Repeater management computer may manage 3034 second repeater ttansceiver 3200 through communications 3036 routed through repeater interface 3300.

Figure 19 depicts the wireless network of Figure 18A where the network containing base station 3000 and both repeater transceivers 3100 and 3200 are controlled by computers.

As in Figure 18A, communicative couplings 3102 and 3202 may employ one or more wireline or wireless physical transports layers. Wireline physical ttansport layers include, but are not limited to, one or more wires, coaxial cables, wave guides or optical fibers.

As in Figure 18B, repeater management computer 3030 is accessibly coupled 3042 to memory 3040. Repeater management computer 3030 manages 3032 the communication delay across repeater transceiver 3100 for communication between base station 3000 and user 200. Note that in certain embodiments of the invention, base station 3000 may directly communicate with user 200 on the same carrier frequency or carrier frequencies in use between repeater transceiver 3100 and user 200. As in Figure 18B, the repeater delay offset plan 3044 is provided to minimize fast fading. Repeater delay offset plan 3044 contains at least one repeater offset including a reference to a first of the repeater transceivers in the wireless network and an offset delay. Repeater delay offset plan 3044 may contain one repeater offset. Repeater delay offset plan 3044 may contain two repeater offsets for different repeater transceivers. Repeater delay offset plan 3044 may contain two repeater offsets for the same repeater ttansceiver to be used under differing network conditions as determined by execution of program system 2000.

As in Figure 18B, repeater management computer 3030 may further manage 3034 a communication delay for second repeater ttansceiver 3200.

Base station 3000 may be controllably coupled 3012 to base station computer 3010. Base station computer 3010 accessibly couples 3022 to memory 3020. Memory 3020 may contain program system 2000. Memory 3020 may contain delay offset plan 3044.

First repeater transceiver 3100 may be controllably coupled 3112 to first repeater ttansceiver computer 3110. First repeater transceiver computer 3110 accessibly couples 3122 to memory 3120. Memory 3120 may contain program system 2000. Memory 3220 may contain delay offset configuration 3124. Alternatively, memory 3120 may contain delay offset plan 3044 (not shown to simplify drawings).

Second repeater transceiver 3200 may be controllably coupled 3212 to second repeater transceiver computer 3210. Second repeater ttansceiver computer 3210 accessibly couples 3222 to memory 3220. Memory 3220 may contain program system 2000. Memory 3220 may contain delay offset configuration 3224. Alternatively, memory 3220 may contain delay offset plan 3044 (not shown to simplify drawings).

Repeater management computer 3030 may further manage through interactions 3038 with first repeater transceiver computer 3110 delay offset configuration 3124 controlling a communication delay for first repeater transceiver 3100.

Repeater management computer 3030 may further manage through interactions 3048 with second repeater transceiver computer 3210 delay offset configuration 3224 controlling a communication delay for second repeater transceiver 3200. Figure 20 depicts the wireless network of Figure 18B where the network containing base station 3000 and both repeater transceivers 3100 and 3200 are controlled by computers as shown in Figure 19 and repeater interface 3300 is further controlled by a computer.

As in Figure 18B, communicative couplings 3106 and 3206 may employ one or more wireline or wireless physical transports layers. Wireline physical transport layers include, but are not limited to, one or more wires, coaxial cables, wave guides or optical fibers.

As in Figure 18B and 19, repeater management computer 3030 is accessibly coupled 3042 to memory 3040. Repeater management computer 3030 manages 3032 the communication delay across repeater transceiver 3100 for communication between base station 3000 and user 200. Note that in certain embodiments of the invention, base station 3000 may directly communicate with user 200 on the same carrier frequency or carrier frequencies in use between repeater transceiver 3100 and user 200.

As in Figure 18B and 19, the repeater delay offset plan 3044 is provided to minimize fast fading. Repeater delay offset plan 3044 contains at least one repeater offset including a reference to a first of the repeater transceivers in the wireless network and an offset delay. Repeater delay offset plan 3044 may contain one repeater offset. Repeater delay offset plan 3044 may contain two repeater offsets for different repeater transceivers. Repeater delay offset plan 3044 may contain two repeater offsets for the same repeater transceiver to be used under differing network conditions as determined by execution of program system 2000.

As in Figure 18B and 19, repeater management computer 3030 may further manage 3034 a communication delay for second repeater transceiver 3200.

As in Figure 19, base station 3000 may be controllably coupled 3012 to base station computer 3010. Base station computer 3010 accessibly couples 3022 to memory 3020. Memory 3020 may contain program system 2000. Memory 3020 may contain delay offset plan 3044. As in Figure 19, first repeater transceiver 3100 may be controllably coupled 3112 to first repeater ttansceiver computer 3110. First repeater transceiver computer 3110 accessibly couples 3122 to memory 3120. Memory 3120 may contain program system 2000. Memory 3120 may contain delay offset configuration 3124. Alternatively, memory 3120 may contain delay offset plan 3044 (not shown to simplify drawings).

As in Figure 19, second repeater transceiver 3200 may be controllably coupled 3212 to second repeater transceiver computer 3210. Second repeater transceiver computer 3210 accessibly couples 3222 to memory 3220. Memory 3220 may contain program system 2000. Memory 3220 may contain delay offset configuration 3224. Alternatively, memory 3220 may contain delay offset plan 3044 (not shown to simplify drawings).

As in Figure 18B, repeater management computer 3030 may further manage 3036 repeater interface 3300. Repeater management computer 3030 may manage 3032 repeater ttansceiver 3100 through communications 3036 routed through repeater interface 3300. Repeater management computer 3030 may manage 3034 second repeater transceiver 3200 through communications 3036 routed through repeater interface 3300.

As in Figure 19, repeater management computer 3030 may further manage through interactions 3038 with first repeater transceiver computer 3110 delay offset configuration 3124 controlling a communication delay for first repeater ttansceiver 3100.

As in Figure 19, repeater management computer 3030 may further manage through interactions 3048 with second repeater transceiver computer 3210 delay offset configuration 3224 controlling a communication delay for second repeater ttansceiver 3200.

Repeater interface 3300 may be controllably coupled 3312 to repeater interface computer 3310. Repeater interface computer 3310 may be accessibly coupled 3322 to memory 3320. Memory 3320 may contain program system 2000. Memory 3320 may also contain delay offset plan 3044. Repeater management computer 3030 may further manage repeater interface 3300 through interactions 3050 with repeater interface computer 3310.

Alternatively, repeater interface computer 3310 may manage through repeater interface interactions 3106 a commumcation delay for first repeater transceiver 3100 based upon delay offset plan 3044 residing in memory 3320. Repeater interface computer 3310 may further manage through repeater interface interactions 3106 going to 3112 first repeater transceiver computer 3110 delay offset configuration 3124 used to control communication delay for first repeater transceiver 3100.

Alternatively, repeater interface computer 3310 may also manage through repeater interface interactions 3206 a communication delay for second repeater transceiver 3200 based upon delay offset plan 3044 residing in memory 3320. Repeater interface computer 3310 may further manage through repeater interface interactions 3206 going to 3212 second repeater ttansceiver computer 3210 delay offset configuration 3224 used to control communication delay for second repeater transceiver 3200.

Note that more than one copy of the delay offset plan 3044 may reside in a memory, or in distinct memories. Such embodiments of the invention may advantageously provide at least fault tolerant redundancy.

Figure 21A depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2012 of Figure 13A further performing configuring the communication delay across the first repeater transceiver based upon the repeater offset.

Arrow 2240 directs the flow of execution from starting operation 2012 to operation 2242. Operation 2242 performs configuring the communication delay across the first repeater transceiver based upon the repeater offset including the reference to the first repeater transceiver to create a first repeater ttansceiver delay offset configuration of the logical channel transported within the physical channel. Arrow 2244 directs execution from operation 2242 to operation 2246. Operation 2246 terminates the operations of this flowchart.

The offset delay may be measured within a delay range compatible with a mobile user radio equalizer in the wireless network service area. The offset delay may further be measured in units including fraction of a symbol time. Figure 21B depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2012 of Figure 13A further perfonning configuring the communication delay across the first repeater transceiver as program steps residing in the accessibly coupled memory of the repeater management computer.

Arrow 2250 directs the flow of execution from starting operation 2012 to operation 2252. Operation 2252 performs processing the repeater offset including the reference to the first repeater transceiver to create a first repeater ttansceiver delay offset configuration message. Arrow 2254 directs execution from operation 2252 to operation 2256. Operation 2256 performs sending the first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message to the first repeater transceiver to create a transmitted first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message. Arrow 2258 directs execution from operation 2256 to operation 2260. Operation 2260 terminates the operations of this flowchart.

Note that in certain embodiments of the invention, the repeater management computer 3030 may also control base station 3000, and in effect, be at least part of base station computer 3010. Repeater management computer 3030 may also conttol the entire wireless network, as part of the overall network management computer or computing system. Such a computer system is often identified as the Operations and Maintenance Center(OMC) in GSM networks. Repeater management computer 3030 may also control repeater interface 3300. Repeater management computer 3030 may in fact be repeater interface computer 3310.

Figure 22A depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2012 of Figure 13A further performing configuring the communication delay across the first repeater transceiver comprised of program steps residing in accessibly coupled memory of the computer controlling the first repeater transceiver.

Arrow 2270 directs the flow of execution from starting operation 2012 to operation 2272. Operation 2272 performs receiving the first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message to create a received delay offset configuration message. Arrow 2274 directs execution from operation 2272 to operation 2276. Operation 2276 performs processing the received delay offset configuration message to create a processed delay offset configuration. Arrow 2278 directs execution from operation 2276 to operation 2280. Operation 2280 performs implementing the processed delay offset configuration to create the first repeater ttansceiver delay offset configuration. Arrow 2282 directs execution from operation 2280 to operation 2284. Operation 2284 terminates the operations of this flowchart.

Figure 22B depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2256 of Figure 21B further performing sending the first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message to the first repeater ttansceiver.

Arrow 2290 directs the flow of execution from starting operation 2256 to operation 2292. Operation 2292 performs sending the first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message to the first repeater transceiver to create a base-station- transmitted first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message. Arrow 2294 directs execution from operation 2292 to operation 2296. Operation 2296 terminates the operations of this flowchart.

The program step sending the first repeater fransceiver the first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message may f rther comprise program steps residing in the accessibly coupled memory of the base station computer controlling the base station.

Figure 23 A depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2256 of Figure 2 IB further performing sending the first repeater ttansceiver the first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message.

Arrow 2310 directs the flow of execution from starting operation 2256 to operation 2312. Operation 2312 performs receiving the base-station-transmitted first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message to create a base-station-received first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration. Arrow 2314 directs execution from operation 2312 to operation 2316. Operation 2316 performs sending the base-station- received first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration to create the transmitted first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message. Arrow 2318 directs execution from operation 2316 to operation 2320. Operation 2320 terminates the operations of this flowchart. Figure 23B depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2256 of Figure 21B further performing sending the first repeater transceiver the first repeater ttansceiver delay offset configuration message.

Arrow 2330 directs the flow of execution from starting operation 2256 to operation 2332. Operation 2332 performs sending the repeater interface the first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message to create a repeater-interface- transmitted first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message. Arrow 2334 directs execution from operation 2332 to operation 2336. Operation 2336 tenninates the operations of this flowchart.

The program step sending the first repeater ttansceiver the first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message may further comprise program steps residing in the accessibly coupled memory of the repeater interface computer controlling the repeater interface.

Figure 24A depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2256 of Figure 21B further performing sending the first repeater ttansceiver the first repeater ttansceiver delay offset configuration message.

Arrow 2350 directs the flow of execution from starting operation 2256 to operation 2352. Operation 2352 performs receiving the repeater-interface-transmitted first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message to create a repeater-interface- received first repeater ttansceiver delay offset configuration. Arrow 2354 directs execution from operation 2352 to operation 2356. Operation 2356 performs sending the repeater-interface-received first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration to create the transmitted first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message. Arrow 2358 directs execution from operation 2356 to operation 2360. Operation 2360 terminates the operations of this flowchart.

Figure 24B depicts a detail flowchart of operation 2242 of Figure 21A performing configuring the communication delay across the first repeater transceiver based upon the repeater offset.

Arrow 2370 directs the flow of execution from starting operation 2242 to operation 2372. Operation 2372 performs configuring the communication delay across the first repeater transceiver based upon the repeater offset including the reference to the first repeater transceiver for the local-time physical channel to create the first repeater ttansceiver delay offset configuration. Arrow 2374 directs execution from operation 2372 to operation 2376. Operation 2376 terminates the operations of this flowchart.

The preceding embodiments of the invention have been provided by way of example and are not meant to constrain the scope of the following claims.

Claims

Claims

1. A method of configuring a communication delay across at least one repeater ttansceiver in a wireless network within a service area containing at least one mobile user communicatively coupled to a first of said repeater transceivers communicatively coupled to a base station for minimizing fast fading in communications between said mobile user and said base station, comprising the steps of: providing a repeater delay offset plan to minimize fast fading in said communications between said mobile user and said base station containing at least one repeater offset including a reference to said first repeater transceiver and an offset delay; and configuring said communication delay across said first repeater ttansceiver based upon said repeater offset including said reference to said first repeater transceiver to create a first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration.

2. The method of Claim 1, wherein the step providing said repeater delay offset plan is comprised of the steps of: creating said repeater offset including said reference to said first repeater ttansceiver and said offset delay; and updating said repeater offset plan with said repeater offset.

3. The method of Claim 2, wherein the step creating said repeater offset is comprised of the steps of: simulating with a goal of fast fading minimization across said service area to create said repeater offset.

4. The method of Claim 3, further comprising the step of: providing a quality of service log across said service area noting fast fading events; and wherein the step configuring said communication delay across said first repeater transceiver based upon said repeater offset is further comprised of the step of: noting said first repeater ttansceiver delay offset configuration in said quality of service log of said service area; wherein the step simulating said wireless network is further comprised of the step of: simulating said wireless network across said service area based upon said quality of service log with a goal of fast fading minimization to create said repeater offset.

5. The method of Claim 2, wherein said repeater offset further includes a physical channel specification; wherein the step configuring said communication delay across said first repeater ttansceiver based upon said repeater offset is further comprised of the step of: configuring said communication delay across said first repeater ttansceiver based upon said repeater offset including said reference to said first repeater transceiver for said physical channel to create said first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration.

6. The method of Claim 5, wherein the step configuring said communication delay across said first repeater transceiver is further comprised of the step of: configuring said communication delay across said first repeater transceiver based upon said repeater offset including said reference to said first repeater transceiver for said physical channel at a first time to create said first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration.

7. The method of Claim 5, wherein the step creating said repeater offset is further comprised of the steps of: monitoring fast fading events on said wireless network on a first of said physical chamiels to create a quality of service measure on said first physical channel; analyzing said quality of service measure on said first physical channel to determine time to modify said repeater offset; and modifying said repeater offset including reference to said first repeater ttansceiver and said repeater offset and said first physical channel whenever it is time to modify said repeater offset.

8. The method of Claim 7, wherein the step monitoring said wireless network is further comprised of the step of: monitoring a first user on said first physical channel for fast fading condition to detemiine whether said first user is fast fading on said first physical channel; and wherein the step analyzing said quality of service measure is further comprised of the steps of: analyzing said quality of service measure on said first physical channel based upon said first user to determine time to modify said repeater offset.

9. The method of Claim 5, wherein said physical channel specification includes at least one local-time physical channel; wherein the step configuring said communication delay across said first repeater transceiver based upon said repeater offset is further comprised of the step of: configuring said communication delay across said first repeater transceiver based upon said repeater offset including said reference to said first repeater ttansceiver for said local-time physical channel to create said first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration.

10. The method of Claim 1, wherein said offset delay included in said repeater offset is further comprised of a constant offset delay.

11. The method of Claim 1 , wherein said offset delay included in said repeater offset is further comprised of a time-varying offset delay.

12. The method of Claim 1 , wherein said wireless network supports a wireless communications protocol includes a logical channel transported within a physical channel; wherein said offset delay included in said repeater offset is further comprised of a logical channel offset delay; and wherein the step configuring said communication delay across said first repeater ttansceiver based upon said repeater offset is further comprised of the step: configuring said communication delay across said first repeater transceiver based upon said repeater offset including said reference to said first repeater transceiver to create a first repeater ttansceiver delay offset configuration of said logical channel transported within said physical channel.

13. The method of Claim 12, wherein said wireless communications protocol includes said logical channels implemented in a time division multiple access protocol transported within said physical channel.

14. The method of Claim 12, wherein said wireless communications protocol includes said logical channels implemented in a code division multiple access protocol transported within said physical channel.

15. The method of Claim 14, wherein said wireless communications protocol includes logical channels implemented with multiple spreading code layers.

16. The method of Claim 1, wherein said offset delay is measured within a delay range compatible with a mobile user radio equalizer in said wireless network service area.

17. The method of Claim 16, wherein said offset delay is measured in units including fraction of a symbol time.

18. A program system configuring a communication delay across at least one repeater transceiver in a wireless network within a service area containing at least one mobile user communicatively coupled to a first of said repeater transceivers communicatively coupled to a base station for mmimizing fast fading in communications between said mobile user and said base station, implemented as program steps residing in accessibly coupled memory of a repeater management computer managing said communication delay across said repeater ttansceiver comprising the program steps of: providing a repeater delay offset plan to minimize fast fading containing at least one repeater offset including a reference to said first repeater transceiver and an offset delay; and configuring said communication delay across said first repeater transceiver based upon said repeater offset including said reference to said first repeater transceiver to create a first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration.

19. The program system of Claim i 8, wherein the program step providing said repeater delay offset plan is comprised of the program steps of: creating said repeater offset including said reference to said first repeater transceiver and said offset delay; and updating said repeater offset plan with said repeater offset.

20. The program system of Claim 19, wherein the program step creating said repeater offset further comprises the program step of: simulating with a goal of fast fading minimization across said service area to create said repeater offset.

21. The program system of Claim 20, further comprising the program step of: providing a quality of service log across said service area noting fast fading events; wherein the program step configuring said communication delay across said first repeater transceiver based upon said repeater offset is further comprised of the program step of: noting said first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration in said quality of service log of said service area; wherein the program step simulating said wireless network is f rther comprised of the program step of: simulating said wireless network across said service area based upon said quality of service log with a goal of fast fading minimization to create said repeater offset.

22. The program system of Claim 19, wherein said repeater offset further includes a physical channel specification; wherem the program step configuring said communication delay across said first repeater ttansceiver based upon said repeater offset is further comprised of the program step of: configuring said communication delay across said first repeater transceiver based upon said repeater offset including said reference to said first repeater transceiver for said physical channel to create said first repeater ttansceiver delay offset configuration.

23. The program system of Claim 22, wherein the program step configuring said communication delay across said first repeater ttansceiver is further comprised of the program step of: configuring said communication delay across said first repeater transceiver based upon said repeater offset including said reference to said first repeater transceiver for said physical channel at a first time to create said first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration.

24. The program system of Claim 22, wherein the program step creating said repeater offset is further comprised of the program steps of: monitoring fast fading events on said wireless network on a first of said physical channels to create a quality of service measure on said first physical channel; analyzing said quality of service measure on said first physical channel to determine time to modify said repeater offset; and modifying said repeater offset including reference to said first repeater transceiver and said repeater offset and said first physical channel whenever it is time to modify said repeater offset.

25. The program system of Claim 24, wherein the program step monitoring said wireless network is further comprised of the program step of: monitoring a first user on said first physical channel for fast fading condition to determine whether said first user is fast fading on said first physical channel; and wherein the program step analyzing said quality of service measure is further comprised of the program step of: analyzing said quality of service measure on said first physical channel based upon said first user to determine time to modify said repeater offset.

26. The program system of Claim 22, wherein said physical channel specification includes at least one local-time physical channel; wherein the program step configuring said communication delay across said first repeater transceiver based upon said repeater offset is further comprised of the program step of: configuring said communication delay across said first repeater transceiver based upon said repeater offset including said reference to said first repeater transceiver for said local-time physical channel to create said first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration.

27. The program system of Claim 18 , wherein the program step configuring said communication delay across said first repeater transceiver is further comprised of the program steps of: processing said repeater offset including said reference to said first repeater transceiver to create a first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message; and sending said first repeater transceiver said first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message to create a transmitted first repeater ttansceiver delay offset configuration message.

28. The program system of Claim 27, wherein the program step configuring said communication delay across said first repeater transceiver is further comprised of the program steps residing in an accessibly coupled memory of a computer controlling said first repeater transceiver of: receiving said first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message to create a received delay offset configuration message; processing said received delay offset configuration message to create a processed delay offset configuration; and implementing said processed delay offset configuration to create said first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration.

29. The program system of Claim 27, wherein said repeater management computer controls said base station.

30. The program system of Claim 29, wherem said repeater management computer controls said wireless network.

31. The program system of Claim 27, wherein the program step sending said first repeater transceiver said first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message is further comprised of the program step of: sending said base station said first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message to create a base-station-transmitted first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message.

32. The program system of Claim 31 , wherein the program step sending said first repeater transceiver said first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message is further comprised of the program steps residing in an accessibly coupled memory of a base station computer controlling said base station of: receiving said base-station-transmitted first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message to create a base-station-received first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration; and sending said base-station-received first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration to create said transmitted first repeater ttansceiver delay offset configuration message.

33. The program system of Claim 27, wherein said communicative coupling of said base station to said first repeater transceiver is further comprised of said base station communicatively coupled to a repeater interface communicatively coupled to said first repeater transceiver; and wherein the program step sending said first repeater transceiver said first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message is further comprised of the program steps of: sending said repeater interface said first repeater ttansceiver delay offset configuration message to create a repeater-interface-transmitted first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message.

34. The program system of Claim 33, wherein the program step sending said first repeater transceiver said first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message is further comprised of the program steps residing in an accessibly coupled memory of a repeater interface computer controlling said repeater interface of: receiving said repeater-interface-ttansmitted first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message to create a repeater-interface-received first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration; and sending said repeater-interface-received first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration to create said transmitted first repeater transceiver delay offset configuration message.

35. The program system of Claim 18, wherein said offset delay included in said repeater offset is further comprised of a constant offset delay.

36. The program system of Claim 18, wherein said offset delay included in said repeater offset is further comprised of a time- varying offset delay.

37. The program system of Claim 18, wherein said wireless network supports a wireless communications protocol includes a logical channel transported within a physical channel; wherein said offset delay included in said repeater offset is further comprised of a logical channel offset delay; and wherein the program step configuring said communication delay across said first repeater ttansceiver based upon said repeater offset is further comprised of the program step of: configuring said communication delay across said first repeater transceiver based upon said repeater offset including said reference to said first repeater transceiver to create a first repeater ttansceiver delay offset configuration of said logical channel transported within said physical channel.

38. The program system of Claim 37, wherein said wireless communications protocol includes logical channels implemented in a time division multiple access protocol on a physical channel.

39. The program system of Claim 37, wherein said wireless communications protocol includes logical channels implemented in a code division multiple access protocol on a physical channel.

40. The program system of Claim 39, wherein said wireless communications protocol includes logical channels implemented with multiple spreading code layers.

41. The program system of Claim 18, wherein said offset delay is measured within a delay range compatible with a mobile user radio equalizer in said wireless network service area.

42. The program system of Claim 41 , wherein said offset delay is measured in units including fraction of a symbol time.